Sand cut-off



March 13, 1962 v. FRANTZ SAND CUTOFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1958 V INVENTOR V/RG/L L. FRANTZ HIS ATTORNEY United States 3,024,797 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 3,024,797 SAND CUT-OFF Virgil L. Frantz, Saiern, Va, assignor to Graham-White Sales Corporation, Salem, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,234 14 Claims. (Cl. 137-38) This invention relates, generally, to sanding systems for applying sand for increased traction to rail or other surfaces and, more particularly, to a sand cut-off for cutting off flow of sand between a supply hopper and sand trap of such a system.

Due to the severe conditions to which it is subjected in service, a sand trap should be removed periodically for inspection and, if necessary, repair or replacement. Requiring the flow of sand from the supply hopper or sand dome to be shut oif in the interim, such removal has heretofore been rendered difiicult because of the inability of available cut-offs to operate efiiciently over protracted periods. Ordinarily, such a cut-off employs, as its cut-01f means, a blade or gate projectible from the side into the path of flow of the sand and depends on a wiping action between an edge on its housing and the upper face of the blade to prevent sand from being withdrawn with the blade into a blade compartment at the side, in which the blade is normally contained. Herein lies the diificulty, since it is impossible to maintain a contact between the edge and the blade sufficient to wipe the latter clean with the result that sand is progressively deposited in the blade compartment, ultimately to a point where it interferes with or blocks retraction of the blade.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved sand cut-off which, while employing a retractable blade as its cut-off means, will operate efliciently and without clogging for an indefinite period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off for a sanding system whereby any sand drawn with the blade into the blade compartment is automatically dumped back into the system, thereby ensuring efiicient operation without the close tolerance between the blade and a wiping edge on the housing heretofore deemed essential.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-oft for a sanding system in which any sand moved by the blade in either its closing or opening stroke is automatically returned to the system and cannot interfere with further operation of the blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-ofi for a sanding system, the blade of which, when closed, seats against a seat in the housing and in which any sand pushed ahead of the blade during closing is received in a recess associated with the seat and automatically returns therefrom after the blade has been retracted, interference by sand with closing of the blade thus being prevented in both a given and any subsequent operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off for a sanding system having a blade closable against spring pressure by an actuating handle and locked in closed position by a bayonet-type joint, the joint being of such arrangement and construction as to unlock under service forces and enable the blade to be retracted by the associated spring means in case the blade is accidentally left closed, thereby assuring that in service any sand in an associated supply hopper will be available for a sanding operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sand cut-off which may be attached to a sand trap designed for a flanged connection or, through a separate adapter plate, to one fitted for a union, the sand cut-cit in either case being so attached as to enable the position of its blade actuating handle to be adjusted to suit a particular installation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the sand cut-off of the present invention applied to a sand trap of a type to which it is attachable by a flanged connection;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the sand cut-off of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the sand cutoif of FIGURE 1 applied to a sand trap fitted for a union, portions being broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved sand cut-off of the present invention is intended for use in a sanding system temporarily to interrupt gravity flow of sand from a supply hopper. While applicable generally to sanding systems, the sand cut otf is especially adapted to be interposed between a supply hopper and sand trap of a sanding system or sander of a locomotive or other railway vehicle to facilitate inspection and repair or replacement of the sand trap, or in operations requiring removal of the sand trap or parts of the system beyond the trap.

Designated generally as 1 and designed particularly for use in a locomotive sanding system or sander, the preferred embodiment of the sand cut-off of the present invention is installable in a sand supply line (not shown) between a supply hopper or sand dome (not shown) and a sand inlet or inlet port 2 at the top of a sand trap 3. The illustrated sand cut-off 1 is attachable either directly to the body 4 of the sand trap, in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, or through suitable means, such as the adapter plate 5 shown in FIGURE 3, if the sand trap is fitted about its sand inlet for a union. In either case, the sand cut-off 1 surmounts the sand trap 3 and is disposed to cut oii flow of sand by gravity from the supply hopper through the sand inlet 2 to the interior 6 of the sand trap 3.

The illustrated sand cut-off is comprised of a body, housing or casing 7 having a main passage, opening or bore d extending substantially vertically therethrough and connectable at its inlet end 9, as by internal threading it to a supply pipe (not shown) from the supply hopper (not shown) and at its outlet end 11 to the sand inlet 2 of the sand trap 3 in the manner above described. Preferably formed in the body 7 of the sand cut-off 1 and opening from a side or substantially radially into the main passage 8 through a transversely, horizontally elongated slot or mouth, side opening or inlet 12, is a side compartment or chamber 13 in which normally is housed or contained a preferably substantially fiat, horizontally disposed blade or gate 14 projectible through the mouth 12 substantially radially into the passage 8. The blade-housing compartment also opens, through a second, auxiliary or bottom opening or aperture or outlet 15, onto the lower or outlet end 16 of the body 7, the auxiliary opening 15, below the mouth 12, preferably being divided or separated from the lower portion of the passage 8 by a substantially vertically extending or disposed septum or partition 17, forming a lower extremity or extension of the side wall or side 18 of the passage 8.

Of a size to close the passage 8 when fully projected thereinto through the mouth 12 interrupting the passages side wall 18, the blade 14, when in closed position, is adapted to rest at its front or free end 19 on a ledge, shelf or lip 20 formed on the side wall 18 opposite and preferably substantially on the level of the lower edge 21 of the mouth 12. As an aid in guiding the blade 14 in its reciprocable movement as it is projected into and retracted from the passage 8, it is preferred that the ledge 20 be extended or continued along the sides of the side wall 18, substantially to the sides of the mouth 12 and that the sidewall above the ledge be recessed by a groove or guide- Way 22 for receiving the sides 23 of the blade, the latter thus riding or sliding on the ledge and the lower edge 21 of the mouth 12 and in closed position having its front end 19 and sides 23 seated in the groove 22 against the ledge and thereby sealing the passage 8.

Since, as the blade 14, is projected into the passage 8, its front or leading end 19 will push before it particles of sand, even though, as in the disclosed embodiment, the blade is tapered or bevelled from the top toward front and sides to a relatively narrow or knife-like edge, such particles could interfere with or even block full closure of the blade if, at full closure, the blade was designed to have its leading end abut against the confronting face of the side wall 18. To guard against this contingency, the blade 14, in closed position, has its leading end 19 spaced inwardly from the inner end or wall 24 of the confronting portion of the groove 22 and the latter, over that portion, is made of sufficient depth to accommodate any such particles. Additionally, the upper surface 25 of the ledge 20 slopes or is inclined downwardly inwardly or toward the center of the passage 8 at such an oblique angle that any sand particles remaining in the groove, on retraction of the blade, will be caused by gravity to slide down the surface into the passage, thus clearing the groove for the next closing of the blade.

While interference by sand particles with closing of the blade presents a problem which is solvable in the manner above described, a major problem in previous sand cutoffs is to prevent interference with opening of the blade by sand particles carried on the upper face 26 of the blade as it is retracted. The upper edge 27 of the mouth 12 exerts a wiping action on the upper face 26 of the blade, more or less depending on the clearance therebetween, but a tolerance sufficient to ensure complete wiping could not be held even if originally obtainable. As a consequence, a sand cut-off depending alone on wiping of the blade to prevent an accumulation of sand in its blade housing compartment will operate effectively only for a short time. Here, as the vertical clearance or spacing between the upper face 26 of the blade 14 and the upper edge 27 of the mouth 12 indicates, the blade is only partially wiped as it is retracted and such wiping is only partly depended on to prevent sand from accumulating in the side compartment 13. Major dependence is placed on the auxiliary aperture 15 and, if, as here, the compartment is partially closed by a bottom wall 28, on downsloping or inclining of the portion of the bottom wall below the blade towards the aperture. With this construction, any sand particles not wiped off by the upper or wiping edge 27 of the mouth 12 and carried through the mouth on the blade as the latter is retracted, either will be returned by the blade to the passage 8 on its next projection or, if dropped therefrom into the compartment 13, will automatically be discharged from the compartment by sliding along its sloping bottom wall to and through the auxiliary aperture 15 and so returned to the main flow of the sand.

To facilitate initial installation of the blade 14, the side compartment 13 extends outwardly through the side or side wall 29 of the body 7 and has its outer end 313 normally closed by a cap or cover plate or member 31 removably attachable as by bolting to the body, preferably with a gasket 32 interposed therebetween. Extending through a central bore or aperture 33 in the cover plate 31 and preferably wiped as it reciprocates by an O-ring or like sealing means 34 seated in the plate about the bore, is the blades actuating stem or rod 35 which conveniently may be formed integrally with the blade and carries on a reduced or necked outer end portion 36 an actuating or operating handle or knob 37. Rotatably mounted on the stem 35 so as to be rotatable freely relative thereto while moving axially therewith, the actuating knob carries on the inner end portion of its stem-encircling shank or hub 38 one or preferably a pair of oppositely disposed, radially outstanding, conveniently integral lugs or Wings 39 slidable through a notch or notches 40 of corresponding configuration and disposition into an outwardly opening socket 41 formed in a boss 42 integral with the cover plate 31. Concentric with and disposed outwardly of the aperture 33 in the cover plate 31, the socket 4-1 is restricted about its outer end by one or, for the preferred two notches, a pair of radially instanding flanges 43 spaced by the notches, the flanges and the lugs 39 together forming a bayonet joint or lock for holding or locking the blade 14 in closed position. Limited in movement in a closing direction by engagement of the confronting inner ends 45 and 46 of the socket 41 and shank 38 of the knob, respectively, the blade is limited in the opposite or opening direction by engagement of a shoulder 47 formed on its outer end with the confronting inner face 48 of the cover plate. To ensure that the blade will be held in open position when the knob 37 is unlocked from the boss 42, there preferably is provided a coil spring or like yieldable means 49 encircling the shank 38 of the knob and interposed and acting between the head 5f! of the knob and the confronting outer face 51 of the cover plate 31.

Were the lock between the lugs 39 and flanges 43 conventional, a workman might well leave the blade locked in closed position at the completion of the operation for which it was closed, thus rendering the sanding system inoperative, when needed, by blocking the sand trap 3 from its source of supply. Any such happenstance is avoided in the disclosed embodiment by providing each of the flanges 43 with an inner face 52 which, while disposed radially of the socket 41, is helically curved so as to incline or slope axially thereof from. one end of the flange toward the other. By sloping both flanges in the same circumferential direction, preferably correspondingly forming the confronting outer faces 53 on the lug 39 and making the thicker ends of the flanges and lugs of such thickness that they will overlap axially in the fully seated position of the shank in the socket, the knob can be turned in but one direction to engage the confronting faces 52 and 53 of the lugs and flanges and, when so turned, will be cammed by the inner faces 52 on the flanges into fully seated position. Conversely, if the blade accidentally is left locked in closed position, the shocks or jolts to which the sand cut-off is subjected in service will cause the blade automatically to be unlocked and retracted to open position by enabling the force exerted by the spring to cam the lugs 39 on the inner or camming faces 52 of the flanges to the point at which the lugs will register with and release through the notches 40.

In a sanding system such as here illustrated, in which the sand cut-off 1 is designed primarily to cut off flow of sand to an associated sand trap, the sand cut-01f ordinarily will be attached to the sand trap, with the mode of attachment dependent upon the type of trap. Thus, if, as in FIGURE 1, the sand trap 3 with which the sand cut-off is to be used is flanged about its sand inlet, the sand cut-oflf may have a connecting flange 54 at its lower end 16 for bolting directly to the body 7 of the sand trap to provide a flanged joint or connection therebetween. If, on the other hand, the sand trap has an externally threaded neck 55 about its sand inlet 2 for taking a union fitting, as does the sand trap 3a fragmentarily shown in FIGURE 3, the sand cut-off may be provided with a mating element for such a fitting. However, it is preferred that the same. sand cut-off be usable with either type of trap, so as to enable its form to be standardized.

In the disclosed embodiment, the above is accomplished not only by providing the lower end 16 of the body 7 of the sand cut-ofl? 1 with the integral connecting flange 54, but also by forming in that end within the flange 54 an annular bevelled seat 56 encircling or including the outlets of both the main and the auxiliary apertures 11 and 15, respectively. Adapted to seat the conventional crowned upper end 57 of the externally threaded neck 55 of the sand trap 3a, the sand cut-off is made connectable to such a sand trap by an adapter plate 5 boltable to the connecting flange 54 and having an internally threaded axial bore 58 for threadedly receiving the externally threaded neck 55, the adapter plate desirably being of such thickness relative to the threading on the neck as to enable the crowned end 57 of the latter to be drawn tight against the seat 56 before the plate itself engages the lower or bottom end 16 of the body 7 of the cut-off. The sand cut-off being relatively turnable or rotatable for attachment in any of a plurality of angularly related positions to the adapter plate 5, it is thus possible to install the sand cut-01f in the position in which its actuating knob 37 is most readily accessible without disturbing either the position of the sand trap or the connection between the latter and the sand cutoff. Such adjustment is equally obtainable when the sand cut-off and sand trap are connected by a flanged joint, as in FIGURE 1, the possible variations in the relative position of the sand cut-off in either case, of course, depending on the number of alignable bolt holes 59 in the elements bolted together.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved sand cutoif for a sanding system which will operate efliciently and without clogging for an indefinite period. It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be included which do not depart from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A sand cut-oh for a sanding system, comprising a body having a main aperture extending therethrough, a shelf on a side wall of said main aperture, 9. 'tompartment in said body at a side of and having an opening onto said main aperture, an auxiliary aperture separated from said main aperture and connecting said compartment to an outlet end of said body, and a cut-off blade normally contained in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said opening, said blade being projectible through said opening into said main aperture and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for temporarily closing said main aperture.

2. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body having a main aperture extending therethrough, a shelf instanding from a side wall of said main aperture, a compartment in said body at a side of and having an opening onto said main aperture substantially on a level of said shelf, an auxiliary aperture separated from said main aperture and connecting said compartment to an outlet end of said body, and a cut-off blade normally contained in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said opening, said blade being projectible through said opening into said main aperture and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for temporarily closing said main aperture.

3. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body having a main aperture extending therethrough, a compartment in said body at a side of and having an opening onto said main aperture, an auxiliary aperture separated from said main aperture and connecting said compartment to an outlet end of said body, a cut-01f blade normally contained in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said opening, said blade being projectible through said opening for temporarily closing said main aperture, and a shelf instanding from a side of said main aperture and having an inwardly and downwardly sloping upper surface disposed to underlie and seat a free end of said blade in the closed position thereof.

4. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body having a main aperture extending therethrough, a compartment in said body at a side of and having an opening onto said main aperture, an auxiliary aperture separated from said main aperture and. connecting said compartment to an outlet end of said body, a cut-off blade normally contained in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said opening, said blade being projectible through said opening for temporarily closing said main aperture, and a shelf instanding from a side of said main aperture and having an inwardly and downwardly sloping upper surface disposed to underlie and seat a free end of said blade in the closed position thereof, said side wall above said shelf being recessed beyond said front end in said closed position for receiving any sand particles pushed in front of said blade during closing thereof and preventing interference thereby with said closing, said particles on subsequent retraction of said blade sliding down said shelf into said main aperture, and a forwardly and downwardly tapered leading edge on said blade for forcing said blade downwardly against said shelf on movement thereof through sand to projected position.

5. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side of said passage, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, and a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage.

6. A sand cut-01f for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side wall of said passage, 21 compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage, actuating means connected to said blade and extending for actuation through a side of said body, and yieldable means acting between said actuatng means and body for normally holding said blade in said compartment.

7. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side wall of said passage, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, and a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage, said upper extremity of said side opening being disposed to wipe sand from said blade during retraction thereof into said compartment.

8. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side wall of said passage, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage, and a blade normally housed in said compartment and normally extending into and spaced from vertical extremities of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage and in projected position overlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage, said compartment having an opening onto a lower end of said body, and a floor in said compartment below said blade and sloping downwardly toward said last-named opening.

9. A sand cut-01f for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a seat in said body about said passage and having an inwardly and downwardly inclined portion confronting said side opening, and a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said opening into said passage, said blade in projected position overlying and being urgable by pressure of sand therebove downwardly against said seat for closing said opening.

10. A sand cut-oft" for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side wall of said passage, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage substantially on a level of said shelf and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage, said blade in projected position overlying and being en gageable with said shelf for closing said passage, actuating means connected to said blade and extending for actuation through a side of said body, yieldable means acting between said actuating means and body for normally holding said blade in said compartment, and means carried by said actuating means outwardly of said body and engageable with means carried by said body for locking said blade in closed position.

11. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening to close said passage, an actuating stern attached to an outer end of said blade and projecting through a side of said body, an operating knob rotatably mounted on an outer end of said stem and connected for axial movement therewith, spring mean acting between said knob and body for normally holding said blade in said compartment, lug means outstanding from a hub of said knob, flange means carried by said body outwardly of said compartment and instanding toward said stem, a camming face on said flange means and facing inwardly toward said compartment, said camming face being engageable by said lug means on inward axial movement and rotation of said knob for locking said blade in closed position, and said camming face being operative under service shocks for enabling said spring means automatically to retract said blade to open position if accidentally left closed.

12. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a compartment in and extending through a side of said body, said compartment having a side opening which opens inwardly onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening for closing said passage, a cover plate releasably attached to said body and closing an outer end of said compartment, an actuating stem rigid with said blade and extending through said cover plate, an operating knob carried by said actuating stem outwardly of said cover plate and connected for axial movement with and rotation relative to said stem, spring means acting between said cover plate and knob for normally holding said blade in retracted position in said compartment, a socket in said cover plate and facing toward said knob, instanding flange means restricting an outer end of said socket, a shank on said knob and seatable in said socket on closing of said blade, and lug means outstanding from said shank and disposed to engage an inner face of said flange means on relative inward axial movement and rotation of said knob for locking said blade in closed position, said inner face being outwardly inclined for enabling said spring means under service shocks automatically to cam said lug means free of said flange means and retract said blade into said compartment if accidentally left closed.

13. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side of said passage, 21 compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage, said blade in projected position ovenlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage, an integral connecting flange at a lower end of said body, a seat in said lower end and encircling outlets thereonto of said passage and compartment for seating an end of an externally threaded neck on an associated sand trap, and an adapter plate boltable in a plurality of angularly related positions to said flange, said adapter plate having an internally threaded axial bore for threadedly receiving said neck.

14. A sand cut-off for a sanding system, comprising a body, a substantially vertically directed passage extending through said body, a shelf instanding from a side of said passage, a compartment in said body and having a side opening onto said passage and a downward opening onto a lower end of said body, a blade normally housed in said compartment and projecting into and spaced below an upper extremity of said side opening, said blade being projectible through said side opening into said passage, said blade in projected position ovenlying and being engageable with said shelf for closing said passage, means on said body for connecting a sand inlet to an inlet end of said passage, an integral connecting flange at a lower end of said body, a seat in said lower end and encircling outlets thereonto of said passage and compartment for seating an end ofnan externally threaded neck on an associated sand trap, and an adapter plate boltable in a plurality of angularly related positions to said flange, said adapter plate having an internally threaded axial bore for threadedly receiving said neck.

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